URGENT UPDATE: The iconic Rena Bransten Gallery in San Francisco is set to close its doors on November 22, 2023, after an impressive 50 years of showcasing BIPOC and female artists. This closure comes as the gallery wraps up its current exhibition featuring renowned artist Oliver Lee Jackson.
Gallery owners Rena and Trish Bransten announced the decision in a press release, citing significant economic shifts in the art world. “The economics of running a brick-and-mortar gallery has shifted, asking us to consider new models,” they stated. The gallery, which has been a beacon for emerging and established artists, will now transition to remote programming and collaborative exhibitions across various venues.
The gallery has represented several notable artists over the years, including Viola Frey, known for her monumental sculptures, and current roster artists such as Dawoud Bey, Vik Muniz, and Wendel A. White. In a poignant reflection, Jackson, who has been with the gallery since 1982, emphasized, “It is not about [Rena and Trish Bransten]; it’s about the artists.”
Founded at 75 Geary Street, just two blocks from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the gallery has had a storied history, marked by challenges that forced relocations, including a move from a spacious 3,400-square-foot space to its current location at the Minnesota Street Project in the city’s Dogpatch neighborhood.
The Bransten Gallery’s closure adds to a troubling trend, with several prominent galleries across the U.S. shutting down in recent months. Factors such as changing consumer preferences, steep tariffs, and global financial instability have taken a toll on the art economy. Other galleries like Clearing and Blum have also recently announced their closures.
As the art community absorbs this news, the Bransten Gallery’s legacy of fostering a welcoming environment for all—where visitors could engage with significant art without cost—will be deeply missed. “We have proudly celebrated artists who were, and sometimes still are, overlooked by mainstream institutions,” the Bransten duo noted.
Looking ahead, the gallery’s owners are shifting their focus to innovative programming that adapts to the evolving landscape of the art world. The impact of this transition will be closely watched by artists and collectors alike as the industry navigates these unprecedented changes.
Stay tuned for more updates on how the gallery and its artists will adapt to this new chapter.
